Adjunct Therapies

Treatment with psychotropic medication may also be needed in conjunction with CBT for patients with comorbid depression and anxiety disorders (Belzer & Schneier, 2004). The medication classes of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may have potential efficacy with both depressive and anxious symptoms; thus, monotherapy is recommended (Belzer & Schneier, 2004). In particular, medication is recommended for treating comorbid OCD and depression, and it is also important that the depressive symptoms be addressed sufficiently prior to commencing exposure and response prevention (Abramowitz, 2004). Patients may need to be encouraged to stay on a medication, even if they fail to see improvement in their anxiety symptoms. For example, OCD has been shown to have a delayed response to psychotropic medication, and there is some evidence of the need for higher SSRI doses for superior efficacy with OCD (Belzer & Schneier, 2004).

It seems like you hear it all the time from nearly every one you know I'm SO stressed out!? Pressures abound in this world today. Those pressures cause stress and anxiety, and often we are ill-equipped to deal with those stressors that trigger anxiety and other feelings that can make us sick. Literally, sick.